I'm getting set to start loading for my CMP "special".
I have all the equipment as I have been loading for a few years.
I have the RCBS rockchucker. A set of Forster dies is coming in the mail.
How is the best way to determine shoulder bump for the garand? Should I not worry about it? I just full length size for everything else except my .260, which I beck size for.

I have loaded for the Garand for about 12 years all I do is full length size and makes sure your primers are deep enough . I use an adjustable gas plug so I load a little hotter than M2 ball. I check primer depth on every round I put into a clip you can never be too careful. My M1 really likes 168 Grain Hornady bullets I used to get dime size groups at 100 yards with the M1D I used to have.

For semi-auto use I use a Stoney Point/Hornady headspace comparator, then check 5-10 cases that were fired in the rifle and set the shoulder back 0.003" to 0.005". Some used a fixed Wilson gauge and set to the lower step.

Point you want to set the shoulder back enough for reliable functioning and bolt closure, but setting it back too far makes the brass stretch/grow too far, requiring frequent trimmings and that can lead to a premature case separation.

Look up Larry Gibson's treatise on using an RCBS 'X'-die sizing die in a 308 M1A, as it extended the case life up to 12-16 shots per case.

I'm getting set to start loading for my CMP "special".
I have all the equipment as I have been loading for a few years.
I have the RCBS rockchucker. A set of Forster dies is coming in the mail.
How is the best way to determine shoulder bump for the garand? Should I not worry about it? I just full length size for everything else except my .260, which I beck size for.

I'm getting set to start loading for my CMP "special".
I have all the equipment as I have been loading for a few years.
I have the RCBS rockchucker. A set of Forster dies is coming in the mail.
How is the best way to determine shoulder bump for the garand? Should I not worry about it? I just full length size for everything else except my .260, which I beck size for.

Thanks for posting that. I've been using 150g FMJBT-WC or 150g Amax with 45.5g of H4895. Someone told me that 45.5g was over the limit for Garand food, but your chart verified that 155g bullets can go up to 46 and change, so my 150g should be fine at 45.5g. Thanks!

For what it's worth, in the 1980's The American Rifleman published the actual military load for the Garand as used in WW2 and Korea. It's 49.0 grains of IMR4895 (not H4895) behind a 150 grain flat based FMJ bullet. I have used this load as my "standard" 30-06 load for years. It's a good load. I used to use the same load with a flat base hunting bullet as a deer load. It works good in that arena as well.

You gotta be a bit careful when you start deviating too far outside the box with your loads. It's easy to permanently bend an op rod if your port pressure is too high, especially with 4064 powder. Commercial cases can also be problematic.